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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

8 things Illinois could do immediately to cut $1.89B in Medicaid costs

Here's eight things the Illinois Policy Institute proposes could be implemented immediately to lower the exploding costs of the state's overburdene Medicaid program. These eight alone add up to $1.89 Billion in potential savings. From the Institute's Medicaid 59 plan:

3. Rebalance long-term care. Emphasize community-first standardized and uniform assessments for all new nursing facility eligible enrollees. Work with families, patients and facilities to gradually transition a portion of those better suited to home-based and community care.Potential savings: $350.0 million

4. Implement acute care utilization management. Implement aggressive inpatient and outpatient management based on clinically unnecessary admissions, avoidable readmissions within 30 days of discharge, identification of medical errors and inappropriate use of services.Potential savings: $350.0 million

7. Implement data analytics and transparency tools. Utilize services to steer beneficiaries to low global-cost providers for all non-emergency, elective inpatient and outpatient services. The state should begin this program on a voluntary participation basis, providing clients with incentives to use the service, while seeking federal approval for mandatory participation in the program.Potential Savings: $185.0 million

8. Strictly enforce eligibility rules and implement front-end and back-end electronic verification system for all new and renewing applicants. Verify eligibility for all applications and redeterminations, cancel non-eligible cases and strictly enforce eligibility rules.Potential Savings: $360.0 million

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8 things Illinois could do immediately to cut $1.89B in Medicaid costs

Here's eight things the Illinois Policy Institute proposes could be implemented immediately to lower the exploding costs of the state's overburdene Medicaid program. These eight alone add up to $1.89 Billion in potential savings. From the Institute's Medicaid 59 plan: